Why there are still ash trays on airplanes despite smoking being banned

While you absolutely can't smoke on board a flight, some airplanes still have ash trays... but why, exactly?

There's little we love more than catching a flight, far, far away from the UK, especially since it gets dark at 4 pm now.

Though we've had a burning question for a while now that one TikToker has put to rest - why do some planes still have ash trays?

Taking to Tiktok, Canadian flight attendant Kaylee has shed some light on the matter, telling her followers why the ash trays are still there - despite smoking onboard being illegal across the world.

Known as @flyingkaylee on the social media app, Kaylee often uploads eye-opening videos revealing behind-the-scenes secrets of a flight attendant’s job.

The video shows Kaylee filming the inside of a new aircraft and showing her followers an ashtray on the toilet door, which she opens with her finger, before teasing viewers with the answer.

The post has since amassed more than 100,000 views and plenty of replies, with other TikTok users flocking to the comments to try and guess why new airplanes still have ash trays installed on them.

One said: "Because people still like to break the rules. As silly as this sounds. Some still don’t understand that YOU CAN’T SMOKE ON AIRPLANES."

"FA here! It’s because people will try and break the rules. We prefer that they use ash trays to hide their cigarettes instead of causing a fire hazard by hiding them in a small corner."

A third said: "They are required by law to have a safe place for flight crew to put the illegal cigarettes."

And, turns out that those responses were bang on, as Kaylee took to the comments to approve the responses to her question as to why ash trays are still a feature of new planes.

Indeed, it is still a requirement by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to have them installed, Forbes reports.

@flyingkaylee/TikTok

Yep, ash trays are actually listed under the 'minimum equipment' compliances for aircrafts under FAA rules.

Flights have even been delayed previously for not having the 'vital' bit of equipment that absolutely no one is allowed to use.

For instance, Time reported that a Boeing 747 jumbo en route to Mexico faced delays when the crew had to find a replacement for an out-of-use ash tray.

The more you know, huh? Still, we're glad smoking is banned on flights, can you imagine being hungover on your way home with the stench of smoke in the air?